Team Herald
PANJIM: Chief Electoral Office (CEO) on Tuesday submitted a detailed report to the Election Commission, highlighting the opposition political parties’ demand to scrap postal ballot reported till date and call for fresh one-day polling through EVMs for free and fair voting process.
The ruling BJP, however, did not raise any objection to the process stating that it has been done as per the EC guidelines.
Taking serious note of the allegations that several postal ballots were distributed to the government servants on election duty post February 4 (polling day) in violation of ECI directives, the CEO has ordered an inquiry through District Administrators to identify such number of cases and recommend necessary action.
United oppositions that include Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Goa Forward, MGP, Aam Aadmi party (AAP), Goa Vikas Party, Goa Su-Raj party and Shiv Sena, demanded that the postal ballot process be scrapped for now and fresh polling of 17,590 employees be held through EVMs on a particular day.
The meeting, attended by election officers, including North and South collector, was called following directions from the EC, who were appraised on the issue by the three-member delegation comprising Congress and NCP on Monday in New Delhi.
“The meeting was called as per EC directives. We have heard the apprehensions raised by the political parties and also the demands put forth by them. A report is been submitted to the ECI for necessary decision,” South Goa collector Swapnil Naik told media persons emerging out of meeting.
Addressing media, NCP general secretary Avinash Bhonsle said CEO was appraised about the 35 long time period granted for postal ballot and how it is benefiting the ruling BJP, who are been provided with the PB marked rolls by the concerned returning officers (RO).
Bhonsle said that opposition has demanded that the postal ballots held till date be discarded and fresh polling be held through EVMs.
Of the total 17,590 postal ballots, the ROs have received 11,220 ballots with government servants being allowed to submit their ballot latest by 8am on March 11- the counting day.
Postal ballots would be first counted following by votes by service voters and then EVMs. If request comes, the counting will also take place through VVPATs for the concern booth or constituency.
Goa Forward secretary Durgadas Kamat said that their party had filed a complaint before the CEO informing about the fact that postal ballots were distributed after the cut-off date of February 4. “Accordingly, the CEO has ordered inquiry,” he said.
During the meeting, the Collector North Nila Mohanan informed the delegation that the postal balloting has taken place as per the ECI guidelines and that all the candidates were informed about the same well in advance.
She further informed that the drop box consisting postal ballots would be opened on March 10 evening so that the ballots are sorted out constituency wise and sent to respective ROs for counting.
While the opposition raised concern on postal ballot, BJP preferred not to comment on the issue during the 4-hour long meeting.
“BJP has no objection to postal ballot. It is been done as per ECI directives. The oppositions are now raising the issue, as they can see their defeat,” BJP general secretary Sadanand Tanawade said expressing confident that BJP will win the election with full majority that is more than 21 seats.
The oppositions have also demanded re-polling in constituencies, where hundreds of military personnel voted alleging that it was not as per rule.
